Game apparatus.



T. F. QUINN. GAME APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED 05c. 30.- :914.

Patented July 4, 1916. 629- a Quinn;

THOMAS F. QUINN, OF BRQCKTON, 'MASSACHUSE'ITS.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 30, 1914. Serial No. 879,766.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS F. QUINN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brockton, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to game apparatus, designed to simulate a football game, and one of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a. game which can be played indoors by two parties, and which will require considerable skill and knowledge of the football game in order to play it successfully, and which will be instructive in teaching the game of football.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game apparatus which will be instructive, amusing, and entertaining to persons interested in the game of football.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention may be attained by means of the construction and devices illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a game board, with game pieces thereon, said game pieces being lined up in position to play a game of football, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the men or accessories to the game.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 1 designates a square or rectangular board representing a football field, on the face of which are alternately arranged white and colored squares 2, which are intersected by horizontal lines 3 to indicate the yard lines. On opposite sides of the board is a double series of numerals commencing at one side with the numeral 5, and progressively arranged opposite the lines 3, as 5, 10, 15, 20, and so on, to the center, 50 yard line. At the two ends of the board are arranged a series of numerals extending across the board in the first line and indicated as 1, 2, 3 and 1, oppositely arranged, and the central square is numbered 6 to represent a goal a.

The line man A, consisting of the center, guards, and tackles, are shown as having a knob upon the upper end and a dome-shape portion having a fiat bottom to rest upon the board and to be moved about like a checker. The men A are each provided be a full, clear, and exact dewith a surrounding bead 6 and a domeshape cap 7 as shown 1n Fig. 2. The two half backs and one quarter back are also provided with the bead 6 and the domeshape top 7, while the full back A is represented by a round checker having a concave. portion 8 in the center thereof for the ball A The opposing men B, are of substantially the same contour as the men already described, but are provided with a cross mark 9 on the base portion thereof so as to distinguish them from the other men.

The rules for playing the game are as follows:

1. The game is to be played with eleven (11) men on each side, five (5) line men, two (2) ends, and four (4:) backs.

2. The five (5) line men can only move or jump toward the opponents goal. The backs can move or jump either way or both gags, excepting the back that carries the 3. The man carrying the ball can only move toward the opponents goal and cannot jump either way.

4. The game begins with the eleven (11) winning the toss placing the five (5) line men and two (2) ends on the 50-yard line in the center of the field and the four l) backs must be placed as indicated in the drawing, with a full back carrying the ball.

5. The opposing eleven (11) are placed with the five (5) line men and two (2) ends, ten yards, directly opposite the other line and end men, and the four (4) backs being twenty yards or more from the opponents line men, but may be placed in any position the player desires.

6. Either player must jump when he has a chance.

7. When a player jumps a man, it is to be removed from the board, as in the game of checkers.

8. The ball is considered downed when jumped or blocked, so that it cannot move forward any more. Then the opposite player has the ball and lines his men on the yard-line where the ball was downed and places his backs in the position shown.

9. If the player first having the ball scores a goal or any of the points either side of the goal, his opponent has the ball and starts on the 50-yard line.

10. If the player first having the ball is downed on the 5-yard, 10-yard, 15-yard, or

Patented July 4., 1916. i

20-yard line, the ball begins play on the 20yard line with his opponent having the ball, or either player being downed, the opposite player has the ball.

11. A game is finished when each player has the ball twice, that is to say, four periods.

12. If each player has the ball twice and does not score, the game will be called 0 to 0, or may be continued until someone scores. Each side must have the ball an equal nuinber of times.

13. Six points are made when-the ball is placed on the goal. Six, four, three, two, and one points are made when the ball is placed in any of the squares either side of the goal.

let. The ball must always be in the center, or as near the center of the field as possible, when lined up to begin playing.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that the game of football is closely followed in the game, and that the game will be instructive, amusing, and especially entertaining to persons desiring to learn the game of foot ball or to those who have a specific knowledge of the game.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction as to the shape of the men, the color indications, without departing from. the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claim.

lVhat is claimed is A game apparatus consisting of a rectangular board representing a field, the upper face of which is provided with a plurality of alternatingly arranged white and colored squares, said squares being intersected by horizontal lines to indicate the yard lines, the opposite ends of said board being numbered to represent the score, two sets of colored pieces representing two toot ball teams and one piece of each set provided in its upper face with a recess and a ball seated in said recess to be carried by said piece, each of said pieces adapted to be moved forwardly and certain of said pieces allowed to be moved forwardly or rearwardly to provide openings for the back piece carrying the ball, substantially as set forth.

Intestiinony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS F. QUINN.

Witnesses JOHN A. IIARRINGTON, WILLIAM O. BELMONT.

Gapies ofthis patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the commissioner o1 Patents, Washington, D. C. 

